Pregnancy, work and COVID...

[Jazper]

Hi all. Just wondering how people have dealt with being pregnant and working with the whole Covid situation. I'm able to work from home most days but I am going to the office 1-2 days a week every week. I'm aware a new risk assessment will need to be done with regards my pregnancy. This may well result in me being encouraged to reduce my days in the office or, ensuring my days in the office are not alongside anyone else (team of only three staff).
I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't want to divulge my news too prematurely, but equally, I want the correct safety procedures in place to protect myself and my pregnancy.
Any opinions would be much appreciated x

I was about 8 weeks in March when It all kicked off. I told my manager and that's it. It was a bit obvious as Boris said pregnant woman need to isolate then i didnt come in the next day Haha.
You have got to do what's best for you. I went back in July and felt very anxious in my role. They ended up giving me something back of house then furloughed me again in September. Are you happy to still go into the office? You could always just tell your manager and just say for health reasons I'm working from home at this time to anyone that asks? You have a lot of rights when you are pregnant so just make sure your feel comfortable with whatever plan you and your work come to :)

I carried on as normal at work, only telling them after my 12 week scan in June. There was hardly anyone in the office anyway as everyone who could do their job from home (not me) was doing so, and we were mostly pretty good about social distancing. I was allowed to continue like that, working in the office full time, until I entered the 3rd trimester, at which point I was deemed "at increased risk" and my role was shifted to allow me to work fully from home.

I'm 26 weeks and still working on an intensive care unit, from 28 weeks I'll go to a none patient facing role

Thank you all for your replies. I suppose everyone's circumstances are so different...

@Sam042017 , I appreciate I am very lucky in that I am able to work from home most days. I know there are many out there that don't have that option, like yourself. Thank you so much for continuing to provide the care that you do ❤️

Yes, bit different for your situation @micc , the guidance isn't as clean cut now. I'm happy to go in the office but often we have visitors coming in (unnecessarily) and I would feel much more comfortable if this was readdressed. I often get in to find them sitting at my desk - not even using the computer... I then have to sanitise it all before I sit down. It's just a concern.

@CoalCraft thanks for sharing. I'm edging towards waiting until at least 12 weeks before I say anything but my OH thinks the risk assessment needs sorting before. It's a tough one.

I would tell your employer sooner though and then at least as your husband says you can have a proper risk assessment and work out what is best for you and your baby! 👶

In reality pregnant women dont need to take any additional precautions to a non pregnant women until 28 weeks. After 28 weeks working from home and minimal mixing is recommended, before 28 weeks you can carry on as normal. Having said that my employer decided that as the Government has put pregnancy as high risk that i wasnt allow to go to site from when I told them I was pregnant, I've been stuck at home and its been tedious. I guess it depends on what you do?